Character-reading device



M. G. HORN ET AL CHARACTER READI NG DEVI CE F'lled March 26 1925 ByHoLanvs 7M: KEY

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M. HORN ET AL CHARACTER READING DEVICE Filed March 26, `1925 2sheets-sheet 2 lo Il wrm DErsRM/NA non Youn 85.11- Lvl. ou IsSnvRPatented Jan. 5, 1926.

f UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MABEL G. HORN AND BERNICE B. B. BERENS, OF IPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHARACTER-READING' DEVICE.

Application tiled March 26, 1925.

To all whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that we, MABEL G. HORN and BnnNron B. B. BnnnNs, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Character- Reading Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to novelties designed to be used as advertisingnovelties, posters, greeting cards and gifts.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is designed to be used as a character reading device.

A further object is to provide a charac- `ter reading andfortune-telling device of this character in which a book is utilizedsubdivided into chapters, as they may be termed, the chapters beingnumbered to any desired extent, and a key adapted to be loosely engagedwith the book and having its bit' normally inserted between the leavesof the book, this key having a shaft and a `handle and being so engagedwith the book that the key may be supported upon the tip of the thirdfinger of one persons hand and the tip of the finger of another personshand as, for instance, the third linger. The key is supported in thismanner while counting from l to 9, for instance, or from 1 to any othernumber, and if the key should turn at any particular number from 1 to 9,the book is to be opened and the chapter or subdivision numbered 9 andcorresponding to the number counted at which the key turns is thechapter which is supposed to foretell the future or to have some bearingupon the character of the person whose fortune is being told or bearsome relation to his fortune.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which isvery simple, which may be made in a very ornamental and attractive form,and which will form a very interesting and attractive novelty.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

Our invention is iilustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a perspective view showing the character reading device inuse;

Figure a vertical sectional vie-w Serial No. 18,549.

through the character reading device, the key being in elevation;

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the character reading device open atthe part where the directions for use are disposed;

Figure 4 is a like view to Figure 3, but showing the book opened atchapter 1;

Figure 5 is a like view to Figure 4, but showing the book open atchapter 9;

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that our device comprises abook consisting of two covers 10 and 11 which may be made of anysuitable material but may be preferably made of pasteboard or likematerial, these covers being connected by an integral hinged portion 12through which stitches-13 pass through eyelets, these binding cordspassing through the pages 14 of the book. The number of pages in thebook is obviously a matter of choice.

Preferably the two covers of the book will be vapproximately circular inform and the leaves 14 will be approximately circular in form, as shown`in Figure 3. The margin o f the cover 10 diametrically opposite thepoint of attachment of the cover 10 to the cover l1 is provided with anoutwardly projecting tab 15 of flexible material, this tab having anaperture 16, and also is formed at its end with a snap fastener member17. Passing through the a erture 16 is a key 18 having a bit 19 whic isdisposed within the book and the key is provided with a shoulder 20which acts to suspend the book from the key when the key is held in themanner shown in Figure 1. This key is provided with a handle 21 of usualform.

While we do not wish to be limited to the contents of the book, thoughthese contents will preferably be of a character reading andevent-predicting nature, preferably the pages will be devoted `vtochapters and two of these chapters or subdivisions are shown in Figures4 and 5, the chapter designated 1 being devoted to creativeness, whilechapter 9 is devoted to universal love and the arts and sciences.Obviously other chapters 0r subdivisions will be devoted to othermatters as, for instance, other characterger of another persons hand.The key is thus supported in a position where it may be readily turnedand slipped oft' the ngers, and as the key is supported in this mannercounting is commenced. The counting is ordinarily carried from l to i),as stated in the direction pages shown in Figure 3, and when the key hasturned or dropped the operator then opens the book and looks at thatchapter or subdivision of the book which is. indicated by the numbercorresponding to the number counted before the key turned. This issupposed to indicate the fortune. The third linger is used because itconnects directly with the heart and is affected by electricaldisturbances of the body, that every number has a different rate ofvibration, and that when the proper number is reached the action of theheart through the third finger will cause the book to turn and drop,and. that certain attributes in the book which correspond to the numberat which the book drops will be the fortune and character of the party.Of course, the book may be supported and questions asked to be answeredby yes or no If a question is asked and the key turns it means yes, butif the key does not turn it means no Preferably the cover ofthe bookwill be ornamented more or less symbolically as, for instance, in theillustration it is ornamented with asnake, referring to the Egyptianidea that the snake represented universal wis dom. While we haveillustrated'the cover and leaves of the book as being of circular shape,we do not wish to bc limited to this as it is obvious that these mightbe of any shape desired.

lVe claim l. A device of the character described comprising a bookhaving opposed covers and printed leaves, a key carried h i' one coverin a position to have the shank of the key extend between the leaves,and means whereby the covers may beheld (leta-:fhably closed.

2. A device of the character described comprising` a book having opposedcovers and printed leaves, the leaves containing matter relating topredictions or characters, one of the covers having a key and having atab extending from the margin thereof having an aperture through whichthe key passes, said tab having means whereby it may be engaged with theother cover.

2S. A device of the character described comprising a book formed toprovide two loosely hinged covers, a series of leave-s disposed betweenthe covers and operatively engaged therewith, the leaves having thereonphrases and sentences pertaining to predictions of events, charactersand the like, one of the covers being provided with a tab having anaperture, a key passing through this aperture, and a fastening deviceholding the tab to the other cover, the key being provided with a flat,loop-like handle Inv testimony whereof we hereunto allix` oursignatures.

MABEL G. HORN. BERNICE B. B. BERENS.

